Page 44 of Hold Me Instead
The employee door burst open and swung back to bump Charlie as she exited, nose buried in her phone.
Maple buzzed around the back seat, whimpering with excitement.
“Yeah, girl, I see her,” Zachary said, getting out of the car.
Charlie jumped at the sound of the car door, hand to her chest. “Holy crap. Hi!”
“Hey, sorry,” Zachary said. He kept his attention on Maple, lifting her out of the compact gray SUV. The old girl couldn’t jump like she used to, but she always made a move like she was, as if pretendingZachary’s arms were really her, leaping high. Once on the ground, she bumbled over to Charlie, tail swishing, and greeted the woman with kisses.
Charlie cooed and asked Maple about her day, and his dog sat proudly at her feet.
“What are you doing here?” Despite his aloof tone, his emotions were having a field day, punching his insides around like a tetherball. He asked to fill the brief silence, or at least the lack of conversation betweenhimand Charlie. She was wrapped up in Maple, granting loving pets and soothing sounds, and he almost squatted to get in on the attention.
“Had to check on a few things for the cookout. One of our vendors backed out, and my list of other options was here.” She stood, hair hanging loose just past her shoulders. A breeze lifted the strands and pasted them to her lips. She swiped at her mouth. “Why areyouhere?”
“Needed to keep busy. This vendor, was it a big one?”
“Unfortunately. They make great dog treats. There was a supply issue, and a large account of theirs took precedence. So they can’t commit to our event. They’ve been with us since we started inviting other businesses.”
“Oh.” Her noted her shoulders were hiked.
“I have a few others I’ve been meaning to reach out to, so apparently now’s the time.” She held up a notepad.
Zachary nodded. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
She pulled her jacket close against the crisp air, regarding him. Maple nudged her thigh, and Charlie smiled and patted her head in return. “Thanks. Though, it seems you’re keeping yourself pretty busy as it is. You know I’m happy to help with all those files, right?”
“Trust me, it’s best I sort through the mess myself. Also, this from the woman planning a community event. A forty-year celebration at that.” A feat he kept allowing himself to forget, one he truly wanted to recognize his father for.
“Yeah,” she murmured.
He shrugged. “Just trying to do what I can while I’m here. Much as Dad might hate it.”
She tilted her head. “I’m sure he doesn’t.”
He scoffed, unable to look her in the eye.
“How is he?”
“Ready to get out of there.”
“I bet. Do they know when that’ll be?”
“Doctor’s hoping this week.”
“I can’t imagine him staying there all this time. He could barely sit at his desk long enough to enter notes.”
“Yeah. He’s really antsy. Visitors are a good distraction actually, you can stop by anytime.” It would make Zachary feel better, knowing there were more people with him. Even though his dad had already grumbled about how no one left him alone.
Her eyes darted around the quiet parking lot. “Uh, yeah. I’ve been meaning to. Lot going on, you know…”
“He’d love to see you.Both my parents, actually.”
Her eyes locked with his, and just when he thought he caught a glint of tears, she blinked her gaze away.
He didn’t want her upset. He was on a high—yesterday morning he’d achieved an entirely new reaction from her, sparked by a gesture he’d meant as friendly, but then it had escalated into suggestive. Quite literally by his own hand.
He wanted to at least make her smile again.
